Pencil



Oct. 26', 1926.

G. T. WATSON PENQIL iled May 14, 1921 Patented Oct. 26, 1926. v

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE T. WATSON, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

PENCIL.

Application filed May 14,.

This invention relates to improvements in penclls.

It is an ob ect of the invention to provide in combination with a holder for writing leads, mechanism for ejecting a lead from the holder to the extent desired by simple rotation of a partof the holder.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a holder in which the lead ejecting mechanism itself is enclosed within a barrel and is inaccessible so as to avoid the danger of injuring the ejecting mechanism by unskillful treatment of the same by the user.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a guide for the lead in use, which guide is removable from the barrel so as to facilitate the discharge of portions of the 'lead which upon breakage of the lead may have remained in the guide.

It is furthermore an object of the invention to provide in the pencil holder, means permitting the automatic introduction of a writing lead into a channel for transfer to the guide without necessitating the opening of the pencil. This entry of the lead into proper position is made possible by a mere return of the ejecting mechanism into a position ready to act upon the new writing lead.

lVith these and numerous other objects in view, which will become apparent from the claims appended to the specification, a preferred embodiment of the invention is described in the following specification and is illustrated in the accompanying drawing.

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the pencil;

Fig. 2 is a central vertical section on a larger scale through the same, some of the parts being shown in elevation and the view showing the embodiment on a larger scale;

Figs. 3. 4i, and 5 are horizontal sections respectively upon lines 33, l-4, and 5-5, of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a portion of the lead magazine, with a guide for a portion of the ejecting mechanism attached thereto;

"Fig.v 7 is a perspective view of the chute through which reserve marking leads may be conveyed into the magazine; and

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a portion of the ejecting mechanism with the barrel and the head attached thereto.

The pencil comprises a barrel B including a. substantially cylindrical portion land a tapering or attenuated point portion 2, the

1921. Serial No. 469,632.

latter terminating in a relatively small opening at the front end of the pencil, while the opposite end of the barrel may be closed by a head 8. This head, as shown in Fig. 2, is provided near its lower end with a reduced cylindrical part 5 about which a friction ring 6 is placed, this friction ring being united, however, after the introduction of a head with the barrel, so as to hold the head against axial displacement within the barrel while the inner end of the used part is slightly upset, as indicated at 1 in Fig. 2. A central extension 7 projecting from the reduced portion serves for receiving one end of a part of the lead propelling mechanism, this part being constructed as a helical memher or cylinder 8 with the windings or turns equally spaced from each other and having uniform width throughout the entire length of the member. The lower portion 9 of this screw threaded part 8 of the propelling mechanism-is seated on a transverse element or disc 12 which is secured to the barrel B at a suitable distance from the upper end of the same. p i

A second reduced extension 14, also projecting centrally from the head 3, supports an elongated sleeve 15 which serves as a guide for another element of the lead ejecting mechanism, this sleeve, however, being held stationary, and either fixedly connected or integral with the partition 12, which is also stationary in the barrel. The rotat on of the head 3therefore will be without 1n- .fiuence uponthis sleeve 15, but will naturally result in rotation of the threaded part 8.

The sleeve is provided with a slot 16, parallel to the axis of the sleeve, and a pushing member or rod 17 for the writing leads is provided with a head'18, projecting through .the slot 15 and also projecting through the interspace 19 between adjacent windings of the helical member 8. The projecting porsleeve, while the main portion of the pushing member is of cylindrical cross-section to be guided by the sleeve 16 and to project through a cylindrical opening 21 in the par tition wall 12 fixed in the barrel.

At a suitable distance from the first partition wall another partition wall 22 also is fixed to the barrel, the distance between these two walls being somewhat longer than the standard length of a writing lead to be used in the pencil. A magazine for writing leads is inserted between two discs 12 and 22 and is constructed so as to facilitate the automatic entrance .011 one 01": the leads held in the magazine into a position in which the ejecting mechanism can act thereon, while the other leads remaining within the magazine are beyond the zone of influence ot' the ejecting mechanism.

The magazine comprises a substantially circular body 23 having ,an outer diameter equal to the bore of the barrel and a length equal to approximately the distance between the two partition walls 12 and 22. This body is held in the barrel B against rotation 'by a pin 24 or the like which is driven through the barrel into the body. A. central groove 25 of approximately circular area extends through the entire length of the body 23 and from this groove two walls 26, 27 project, for instance, in radial direction pro viding thereby a sector shaped recess 28 in the body and this recess serves as a storage room or magazine for reserve leads, and is confined by the two. radial walls 26, 27 and an arcuate wall portion of the barrel B.

In order to permit of the insertion of storage marking leads into this magazine, a chute C is disposed between the head of the pencil and the partition wall 12, this chute, as shown in Figs. l and 7, having an outer arcuate wall 30 at which it is .united with the barrel of the pencil, and an inner concentric wall 31 adjacent the helical member 8 of the lead propelling mechanism, the two walls being united by curved .end wall portions 33, and preventing in this way the interference ofthe leads to be inserted into the magazine with the ejecting mechanism.

Thehead 3 is equipped with a slot 3% extending parallel to its axis and adapted to be in alignment at a certain position of the head with a slot 35 in the ring 4;, which is secured to the barrel. so that the writing leads L may be inserted through the axial slot ot the head and through the slot 35 in the ring into the chute O to drop into the magazine between the walls 26 27. The rotation of the head, however, accompanied by the rotation of the helical member 8 may bring these slots out of alignment with each other .(Fig. 8), so as to ordinarily prevent the leads from returning through the chute into the upper part of the pencil, even it the latter is turned upside down.

Acap 36 is held in frictional engagement with the head and is provided with a linger 37 which projects into the slot 34 of the head, whereby through ,the rotation of the cap a rotary .movement is also imparted to the head to actuate the e ecting mechanism.

A lead guide 38 is inserted into the partition wall at the lower end of the magazine,

this wall having a tapped central opening 39 into which the upper threaded end of the sleeve 38 may be secured. This sleeve extends nearly to the end of the barrel and has aslightly enlargedouter portion 40 to center it with respect to the reduced end 2 of the barrel, and an outwardly projecting circular shoulder of this guide for the writing leads is continued by a tip 41, the opening of which may be slightly smaller than the bore of the sleeve, so as to firmly grip the lead near the writing point of the same. The outer surface of this tip may be roughened, knurled or provided with projections 41-2 to facilitate the removal of they entire sleeve or guide of the lead from the barrel, this removal being effected by simply unscrewing the inner end of the sleeve from its tapped seat 39 on the partition wall 22.

The head may have a socket 43 for receiving an eraser 44: or some other suitable implement while the outer surface of the barrel may be equipped with a clip 45 of any suitable construction to retain the barrel in the pockets of the coat in which it is carried.

The operation of the device will be apparent from the above specification. A marking lead L being located in the central groove 25 of the magazine the rotation of the head will cause the pushing member 17, through the engagement of the head 18 or the same with the helical ejecting member 8, -to move in a predetermined direction dependent upon the direction of rotation. In this axial movement of the pushing member in .one direction the writing lead in the central groove of the magazine will be advanced, and will finally project through the tip of the lead guide. The cylindrical portion of the pushing member will then occupyand be guided in thecentral U-shaped groove 25 in the magazine. It the writing lead has been used up entirely or to such an extent that the space'between the two partition walls is entirely filled by the cylindrical portion of the pusher bar 17, another lead from the magazine may be introduced into this cen tral groove by simply rotating the head in the opposite direction effecting thereby the withdrawal of the pusher bar from the central groove of the magazine. lVhenthis bar is completely withdrawn, a marking lead from the magazine will automatically drop into the proper position in this central groove 25, and one only of these leads will therefore be automatically inserted into the proper position for action by the ejecting mechanism. The head or cap may then again be rotated. into feeding direction, causing also a rotation of the helical member and an actuation of the pusher bar. If it is desired to fill the magazine with new marking leads, the cap is withdrawn in an axial direction, and the head is then rotated until the axial slot of. the same is in alignment with the chute G inserted between the lower face of the head' and the upper face of the first partition wall 12. Upon alignment of the head with the chute G as indicated there is provided an uninterrupted channel to the lead groove 25 thru the lead magazine. The leads are then successively dropped through this chute and are in this way introduced intothe magazine.

It a lead should brealr' and clog the opening in the tip or in the lead guide, the entire guidemay' be removed from the pencil by rotating the tip in the proper direction and a needle or some other suitable implement may then be introduced into this detached guide for effecting the removal of the. pieces of lead remaining in the tip.

I claim":

1. In a pencil of the cliaracter described, the combination of a barrel, a head mounted for: rotation thereon, apropelling mecha nismwithin the barrel, a' magazine spaced from the head and arranged in the barrel, a member of the propel-ling mecl'ianism c2:- tending, thru the magazine, and a chute leading from the head into the magazine, said" head being cut away whereby to permit, upon rotation of the head to a predetermined position, the insertion of leads therethrough to the chute and into said magazine without causing material longitudinal displacement of any of the propelling mechanism from its normal operative position.

2. In a pencil of the character described, the combination of a barrel, a propelling mechanism within the barrel, a rotatable head for actuating the propelling mechanism, and a magazine, said head being provided with a groove adapted to communicate with the magazine upon rotation of the head into a predetermined position.

3. In a pencil of the character described, in combination, a barrel, a magazine for leads arranged non-axially within said barrel, a propelling mechanism within said barrel, a head for actuating said propelling mechanism, a ring secured internally to the top of the barrel and held against rotation therein, said ring being constructed to permit of access to said magazine, and an element on the head in engagement with said ring for preventing axial displacement of said head relative to the barrel.

4. In a pencil of the character described, the combination of a barrel, a magazine held against axial and circumferential displacement within the barrel, a propelling mechanism having an element movable through said magazine, a rotary head for actuating said propelling mechanism and held against removal from said barrel, and a chute in alinement with the storage space of the magazine, the head being provided with a groove adapted to register with the chute ing beyond and abutting said apertured end of the barrel.

6. In a device of the character described, 111 combinatlon a barrel, a magazine for writing lead'sdisposed within said barrelgn propelling mechanism within the barrel, a head for actuating said propelling mechanism, a ring secured internally to the top of the barrel and held against rotation relative the barrel, an element on the head for engaging said ring for preventing axial displacement relative the barrel, said head: and ring having slots adapted for alinement for permitting. access to the magazine.

7. In a pencil of the character described, in combination, a barrel, a propelling mechanism within said barrel, a magazine, a member of the propelling mechanism extending through the magazine, a chute leading from one end of the barrel into the magazine, a rotatable head for actuating said propelling mechanism, a stationary collar on which said head is mounted, and said head and collar having slots adapted for registration for permitting access to the barrel.

8. A propelling pencil comprising a barrel, a cap therefor, a point-member, and propelling mechanism within the barrel, said propelling mechanism comprising a longitudinally movable rod, a cylinder rotatable within the barrel, means whereby when the a cylinder is rotated, the said rod is moved longitudinally and means forming an uninterrupted channel extending from the upper end of the pencil to near the point thereof whereby a new lead may be placed in front of the rod in position to be propelled through the point member after the cap has been removed without moving any part of the propelling mechanism beyond the barrel.

9. A propelling pencil comprising a barrel, a cap therefor, a point-member, and propelling mechanism within the barrel, said propelling mechanism comprising a longitudinally movable rod, a guide for said rod, .a cylinder rotatable within the barrel, means whereby when the cylinder is rotated, the said rod is moved longitudinally in said guide and means forming an uninterrupted channel extending from the upper end of the pencil to near the point thereof whereby lili.)

a new lead may be placed in front of the rod in position to be propelled through the point member after removing the cap Without moving any part of the propelling mechanism beyond the barrel.

10. A propelling pencil comprising a barrel, a point-member, and propelling mechanism within the barrel, said propelling mechanism comprising a longitudinally movable rod, means forming a U-shaped guide groove for said rod, a cylinder rotatable within the barrel, means whereby when said cylinder is rotated, the said rod is moved longitudinally in said guide groove and means forming an uninterrupted channel eX- tending from the upper end of the barrel to near the point and communicating with the open side of the groove access to said chan nel being aiior'ded by rotation only of a part of said propelling mechanism.

11. A propelling pencil comprising a barrel, a point-member and propelling mechanism within the barrel, said propelling mechanism comprising a longitudinally movable rod, means forming a U-shaped guide groove for said rod, a cylinder rotatable within the barrel, means whereby when the cylinder is rotated, the said rod is moved longitudinally in said guide groove, andmeans forming a 1,eoe,377

channel from the upper end of said barrel communicating with the open side of said U-shaped groove, said channel having a part thereof carried by a moving part of the propelling mechanism.

12. A propelling pencil of the type where- .in the lead is propelled by the action of a longitudinally movable rod, comprising a barrel, a push rod therein, means for actuating the push rod, and a channel within the barrel and extending from the upper end thereof to near the point and communicating with the spacebetween the point and the end of the rod when the latter is in retracted position, access to said channel being aliorded by rotation only of said actuating means.

18. In a propelling pencil of the type wherein the lead is propelled by the action of a rod movable longitudinally in axial alignment with the lead; means whereby new leads may be inserted from the upper end laterally into operative relation with the propelling mechanism Without removing from the confines of the pencil any of the propelling mechanism normally used therein.

in testimony whereof, I affix my signature at 36 West Randolph St, Chicago, Illinois.

GEORGE T. WATSON. 

